IT seems inevitable that Scotland will remain in political paralysis until the independence referendum boil is finally lanced with a rerun. It is crucial for that issue and more generally the electorate's trust in politicians that we can at least make an informed choice.
It is the unquestionable duty of politicians to make their proposals backed up by detailed evidence of how the thorny issues will be dealt with. On the Yes side those are the EU, economics, the currency and more. On the No side, what changes are on offer to preserve the Union devo max? Federalism? What's the difference? What does it mean? How will the Celtic nations cope with a south-east of England-dominated, dominant England?
At least a fully informed referendum decision will give us the faint hope of subsequently being able to vote meaningfully for better governance than we are getting from either Holyrood or Westminster now. We, the electorate, are not stupid and last time I checked it was still our country
John Murdoch, Innellan.
* ALASDAIR Galloway (Letters, January 13) asks why those of us who do not support Scottish independence do not place the same burden of proof on our case as we demand from nationalists.
The answer is quite simple: the nationalist proposal is a hypothetical projection, while the status quo is an observable reality. We can see and record what happens and what has happened in the UK as it is (warts and all), but it is up to the nationalists to show that independence would be better, and how that could come about. There is currently no proposal for independence on the table, so it is quite legitimate to ask for one so that it can be scrutinised accordingly.
He also asks why any future proposal that may be produced should be subject to a higher level of electoral approval than in 2014 or 2016. Obviously he sees the Brexit vote as great success, but I think we should look to other countries like the United States, where two-thirds is the required vote for constitutional amendments, or to Switzerland, where they require a majority of all cantons (a double majority.) A simple 50 per cent +1 victory does not fulfil the purpose of a referendum (that is, to settle a matter for a generation or longer) but makes underlying divisions more permanent and more bitter.
Mr Galloway cites domestic precedents in his defence of a simple majority in these matters. However, unIike him, I do not believe that the British way is always the best way of doing things, especially in constitutional matters.
Peter A Russell, Glasgow.
NO MORE BRANCH MANAGERS
MARK Openshaw (Letters, January 13) details the many steps available in a free society to bring a recalcitrant politician to heel or justice, in this case the Prime Minister of the UK. This is true of all democracies which have evolved over hundreds of years. Democracy as we understand it today is underpinned by the rule of law and in Scotland the legal system can be traced back to the 12th century, perhaps slightly older than the English legal system. There are many countries able to trace their democratic roots back in time, although Mr Openshaw appears to allude to real democracy being the preserve of our islands.
If Scotland became independent, it is clear Mr Openshaw would not be supporting the SNP because of its omerta-like intolerance of internal dissent. I think the dictionary definition of omerta might be better applied to the governing party at Westminster with all its alleged dubious contracts to friends during the Covid crisis.
Mr Openshaw need not worry needlessly about who to vote for in an independent Scotland as he will be able to choose from a number of political parties. These are sure to include existing political parties now independent themselves. With the constitutional question having been settled, from a currently bare cupboard the Conservative and Labour parties might be able to come up with a policy or two which would benefit the new Scotland they might even get elected as the governing party.
No longer would the Tory leader in Scotland be regarded as a Tory lightweight by his betters in London or the Scottish Labour leader as a branch manager for a single MP sitting in London. Whats not to like?
Alan M Morris, Blanefield.
NATURAL REACTION TO EMPIRE BUILDERS
ALEXANDER R McKay's obsessive hatred of national independence (Letters, January 14) qualifies him to join the company of many celebrated figures from history.
The Romans viciously suppressed independence movements, the Habsburgs and the Romanovs were angered by them, Napoleon hated them and the British regarded them with indignation. The Ottomans failed to understand them and the Nazis ruthlessly attacked them in France, Belgium, Holland, Greece, Norway, Denmark and any of the other countries they invaded.
All these frenzied empire builders have been swept aside by history and independent nations have became the accepted normal.
As soon as people began to question the morality of empire building and international plundering, residual sympathisers went on the defensive and, by a spectacular inversion of the truth, condemned "nationalism" or "separatism" as the cause of all political problems. Any examination of history shows that, on the contrary, the pursuit of national independence is just a natural reaction to the arrogant greed of empire builders and conquerors. They all eventually discover its power but cause incalculable damage before they do.
Peter M Dryburgh, Edinburgh.
* REBECCA McQuillan ("Rees-Moggs disdain for Scots Tories shows they must break free", The Herald, January 14) displays the head-in-the-sand affliction widely demonstrated by journalists and commentators who do not seem to understand the difference between the terms nationalism and nationality.
She accepts the increasingly obvious fact that the UK Conservative Party is now an alien force in Scotland and that the Labour Party in Scotland is severely hampered by its stubborn unionist stance but continues to maintain that there is virtue in avoiding "separation" from England. Even if the bitter pill of Brexit were to be swallowed without complaint, federalism or devo max, both of which would continue to treat Scotland as a region rather than a nation, will never satisfy the aspirations of the emerging generation among which so many identify their nationality as Scottish rather than British; their voting choices are driven by nationality rather than nationalism.
I don't think I am better than any of my neighbours and don't want to be any more separated from them than at present but I don't want them to be in control of my home as well as their own.
Willie Maclean, Milngavie.
DOUBLE STANDARDS FROM GOVE
MICHAEL Gove expresses laudable sentiments in Fridays Herald such as "government is a team event" and he boasts of new arrangements that "put mutual respect and collaboration at the heart of a new, mature partnership ("By working as a team across the UK we can overcome common challenges", The Herald, January 14).
What does he mean then when he contrasts the locations of London and Elgin and those who live there? Does ones location confer superiority? How can we level up if the really important place to be is London? Could it be that this mindset is so thoroughly ingrained, ministers dont even recognise it in themselves?
Doesnt bode well for the future.
Jane Guz, Dundee.
POVERTY MUST BE THE NEXT FIGHT
I SUGGEST that post-pandemic we will have an opportunity to raise our aspirations beyond a pitiful return to normal, a normal which fails to present a particularly hopeful future for so many, at home and abroad.
Is it realistic to hope that significant numbers within our society will recognise and condemn at long last the structural injustices of ultra-free markets in which only the prosperous and relatively prosperous can thrive while so many others struggle even to survive?
I am confident that the Labour Party will give the poor more hope of a much better normal than would the Conservative Party. I base my confidence on the following statement by Sir Keir Starmer: I have always been motivated by a burning desire to tackle inequality and injustice, to stand up for the powerless against the powerful. If I see something wrong or spot an injustice, I want to put it right. Can any reader imagine any Conservatives, other than the handful of remaining One Nation Conservatives, saying that since the advent of Margaret Thatcher 47 years ago?
Even during the Thatcherite-tinged New Labour years foreign aid was doubled and more than a million pensioners and more than a million children were lifted out of absolute poverty.
I await to hear the SNPs approach in its prospectus for an independent Scotland. How far down the social justice path would it wish to lead us? Can it demonstrate that the finances will allow it? Or would a Labour UK government and an enhanced devolution settlement be the answer?
John Milne, Uddingston.
Read the original post:
Letters: Let's lance the Indy boil with a fully informed vote - HeraldScotland
- 2024 Lok Sabha Elections: Need to pitch for Federalism and Special Status for Goa - Herald Goa - April 6th, 2024 [April 6th, 2024]
- 1999 constitution and the quest for true federalism - Nigerian Observer - April 6th, 2024 [April 6th, 2024]
- Federalism is not Apartheid The Mail & Guardian - Mail and Guardian - April 6th, 2024 [April 6th, 2024]
- Modi has delivered confrontational federalism: Congress | Siddaramaiah highlights 'injustices to K'taka | Inshorts - Inshorts - April 6th, 2024 [April 6th, 2024]
- Lebanese Pro-Federalism Activist Alfred Riachi: Prior To October 7, The Standard Of Living In Gaza Was Pretty ... - Middle East Media Research... - February 22nd, 2024 [February 22nd, 2024]
- The Potential Impact of 'Disease X' on Federalism in the U.S. - Medriva - February 22nd, 2024 [February 22nd, 2024]
- 'People's Charter' Puts Federalism at The Heart of Myanmar's Democratic Future - The Irrawaddy - February 22nd, 2024 [February 22nd, 2024]
- Siddaramaiah vs Modi: The 'cess-y' mess in fiscal federalism - Deccan Herald - February 22nd, 2024 [February 22nd, 2024]
- Ideas Of India: Devendra Fadnavis To Take A Deep Dive Into Role Of Collaborative Federalism In Nation-Building - ABP Live - February 22nd, 2024 [February 22nd, 2024]
- Potential of federalism should be realized: PM Dahal - The Himalayan Times - February 22nd, 2024 [February 22nd, 2024]
- Sensible education policy needed - The Kathmandu Post - October 9th, 2023 [October 9th, 2023]
- Both cooperative federalism and competitive federalism have their ... - Insights IAS - August 18th, 2023 [August 18th, 2023]
- Federalism to poll promises: South India CMs bring up host of local ... - South First - August 18th, 2023 [August 18th, 2023]
- Justice Mitchell (Alabama): "The New Bar Exam Puts DEI Over ... - Reason - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- Season of instability - The Kathmandu Post - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- Trump Indictment Tests Congress's Role in State Investigations - Bloomberg Law - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- Big Business' New Plan Would Create Fifty New Immigration Policies - Federation for American Immigration Reform - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- Senator decries move to block bill loosening Wisconsin abortion law - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- "Illegally buying time": Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi chastises ... - ANI News - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- Baby Ninth Amendments Part IV: All the Rights but Not ALL the Rights - Reason - May 20th, 2023 [May 20th, 2023]
- Amid the Fight for Myanmar, Federalism Rises from the Grass Roots - United States Institute of Peace - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Lesson from Karnataka respect states and India's federalism - Deccan Herald - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Dr. Paul Nolette named director of Les Aspin Center for Government ... - Marquette Today - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Sen. Cramer Welcomes ND Witnesses, Discusses Water ... - Kevin Cramer - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Utilities, Transmission, and the Grid: An Interview with Ari Peskoe - Brown Political Review - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Six months after elections, provincial governments are still incomplete - The Kathmandu Post - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- NON-FICTION: WHY FEDERALISM ENDURES IN PAKISTAN ... - DAWN.com - May 6th, 2023 [May 6th, 2023]
- Justice Scalia's Unpublished Dissent in Kelo v. City of New London - Reason - May 6th, 2023 [May 6th, 2023]
- Citizens, civil society hold the ruling party, BJP to account ... - SabrangIndia - May 6th, 2023 [May 6th, 2023]
- ED Proposes Title IX Athletics Rule Requiring Participation Based ... - The Federalist Society - May 6th, 2023 [May 6th, 2023]
- The Mysterious Case of the Imposition of Article 355 in Manipur - The Wire - May 6th, 2023 [May 6th, 2023]
- Non-BJP State Governments Not Exercising Accountability, Allowing ... - Daily Excelsior - May 6th, 2023 [May 6th, 2023]
- Two years of Stalin government in Tamil Nadu: Two steps forward - Times of India - May 6th, 2023 [May 6th, 2023]
- What is the issue of gubernatorial inaction in the legislative process ... - Insights IAS - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- World Bank Approves $100 Million to Strengthen Nepal's Healthcare ... - ReliefWeb - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- Canada's federal transfer payment system badly needs a tune-up - The Conversation - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- 50 years of basic structure doctrine | Only safeguard against majoritarian govt: Sr Advocate Ramachandran - The Indian Express - April 29th, 2023 [April 29th, 2023]
- Federalism - Definition, Examples, Cases, processes - Legal Dictionary - February 20th, 2023 [February 20th, 2023]
- What is federalism? | State Policy Network - February 5th, 2023 [February 5th, 2023]
- UPSC Key- January 19, 2023: Learn about Annual Status of Education Report, Federalism and State Legislatures - The Indian Express - January 19th, 2023 [January 19th, 2023]
- Advantages and Disadvantages of Federalism American Government - January 6th, 2023 [January 6th, 2023]
- fiscal federalism | public finance | Britannica - December 26th, 2022 [December 26th, 2022]
- About ALEC - American Legislative Exchange Council - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- Canadian federalism - Wikipedia - November 23rd, 2022 [November 23rd, 2022]
- U.P. bags top honours at PMAY-U Awards 2021 - The Hindu - November 23rd, 2022 [November 23rd, 2022]
- Political Line sc views on conversions rajiv convicts and federalism and more - The Hindu - November 21st, 2022 [November 21st, 2022]
- Byron Williams: The court is poised to rewrite federalism - Winston-Salem Journal - October 17th, 2022 [October 17th, 2022]
- Why Hindi may set the tone for 2024 - Deccan Herald - October 17th, 2022 [October 17th, 2022]
- A Myanmar roadmap: Charting the path to federal democracy - International IDEA - October 17th, 2022 [October 17th, 2022]
- Next generation of reforms should focus on reducing cost of doing business - Economic Times - October 17th, 2022 [October 17th, 2022]
- Nigeria And The Intrigues Of Insecurity -By Kene Obiezu - Opinion Nigeria - October 17th, 2022 [October 17th, 2022]
- Trudeau's aggressive federalism may leave Ottawa weaker than before - The Globe and Mail - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- What is Federalism? | CSF - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Kerala Against Hindi Imposition; Terms Recommendations Attack on Federalism and Diversity of Nation - NewsClick - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- 2023: Well Vote for Candidate Committed to Federalism, Diversity, Says UPU - THISDAY Newspapers - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Attorney General Knudsen fights Biden administration rule requiring states to reach net-zero highway emissions - Montana Department of Justice - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- How Scotland can learn from Quebec's third way on constitution - HeraldScotland - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Federalism and Why Presidents Fail - THISDAY Newspapers - September 22nd, 2022 [September 22nd, 2022]
- Vedanta and the missing spirit of federalism - The New Indian Express - September 22nd, 2022 [September 22nd, 2022]
- Federalism Most Suited Idea For India In View Of Its Diversity, Centralising Whole Things Will Lead To... - Live Law - Indian Legal News - September 22nd, 2022 [September 22nd, 2022]
- Urging the Use of One Federal Decision Rule to Speed Up Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Projects - Kevin Cramer - September 22nd, 2022 [September 22nd, 2022]
- Constitution Day 2022: Celebrating the right to govern ourselves - Yellowhammer News - September 22nd, 2022 [September 22nd, 2022]
- From Augusta Constitution Day: What does it mean to you? - Press Herald - September 22nd, 2022 [September 22nd, 2022]
- Explained | The office of the Governor: its origins, powers, and controversies - The Hindu - September 22nd, 2022 [September 22nd, 2022]
- Geography Professional Speaker Series kicks off with alumnus from Ohio EPA on Sept. 23 - Ohio University - September 22nd, 2022 [September 22nd, 2022]
- Vector-borne diseases trouble Nepal every year as there is not a single entomologist - Online Khabar (English) - September 22nd, 2022 [September 22nd, 2022]
- The Gujarat factor in the development project - Hindustan Times - September 22nd, 2022 [September 22nd, 2022]
- The downslide in federal relations - The Indian Express - September 22nd, 2022 [September 22nd, 2022]
- Competition between states to attract investment will boost Indias economy - Moneycontrol - September 22nd, 2022 [September 22nd, 2022]
- For state of the nation, look at states of the nation: Niti Aayogs new chief says it will help states learn - Times of India - September 22nd, 2022 [September 22nd, 2022]
- Letters to the Editor: Queen injected vitality, vigour into lives of many - The Kingston Whig-Standard - September 22nd, 2022 [September 22nd, 2022]
- Climate action that runs on cooperative federalism - The Hindu - September 15th, 2022 [September 15th, 2022]
- The spirit of federalism - The News International - September 15th, 2022 [September 15th, 2022]
- Javier Perez Sandoval Receives the 2022 William Anderson Award - - Political Science Now - September 15th, 2022 [September 15th, 2022]
- A new Constitutional Convention is a very bad idea | Opinion - Knoxville News Sentinel - September 15th, 2022 [September 15th, 2022]
- Rodney Hero Receives the 2022 Barbara Sinclair Lecture Award - - Political Science Now - September 15th, 2022 [September 15th, 2022]
- Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service: Migratory Bird Hunting; 20222023 Seasons for Certain Migratory Game Birds - Government... - September 15th, 2022 [September 15th, 2022]
- Increasing Threat To Federalism From Centrally Sponsored Schemes- Need To Form A Federal Front - Countercurrents.org - September 3rd, 2022 [September 3rd, 2022]
- Breakenridge: Supporting federalism is the only way Alberta can be a partner in LNG exports - Calgary Herald - September 3rd, 2022 [September 3rd, 2022]
- Two tools for tracking the American Rescue Plans local and national impacts - Brookings Institution - September 3rd, 2022 [September 3rd, 2022]